Expect 'long tail of cyber retaliation' from Russia for sanctions, says ExtraHop CEO

The US and its NATO allies should expect a "long tail of retaliation," in the form of cyberattacks, for the sanctions imposed on Russia, says cloud security shop ExtraHop's CEO Patrick Dennis. But only about half of the organizations the threat detection and response company works with are heeding security warnings from the US …

[Doctor Syntax]

It very much depends on how the situation turns out such and who's in charge at the end of it.

[Charlie Clark]

Russia has limited resources

While it has in the past executed all kinds of cyberattacks, Russia has limited resources, specifically hackers to engage on this and the current brain drain because of the war and sanctions will also be having an effect. Even those sympathetic to Putin's war might well be considering their options. Reports are that the Russian military is already drafting reserves and training staff into the war. Who's going to want to wait for their call up?

[DJO]

Re: Russia has limited resources

Putin has already granted exemption from military service for IT workers so any hackers who can't or don't want to leave Russia will be honing up their skills to avoid being cannon fodder.

[Charlie Clark]

Re: Russia has limited resources

Those that can leave will probably have already done or are in the process of doing so. I certainly don't buy the idea that Russia is leaving off cyberattacks against the West just because the tanks have rolled over the Ukrainian border.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Russia has limited resources

"Putin has already granted exemption from military service for IT workers"

I very much doubt any 20-30 years old dude in Russia can think he is protected by that.

A delay, for sure, but not a protection against getting killed in Ukraine.

Anyone who can see through propaganda is/will be out in the next weeks.

For the rest, sorry lads, you're pretty much toast.

[Clausewitz 4.0]

Cyberweapons

Offensive cyber weapons with lethal kinetic payloads. This is the next goal after stoping the brain drain.

[Anonymous Coward]

Just started seeing a swathe of alleged promotional messages via WhatsApp, claiming to offer free choccies from Cadbury and Galaxy, with a link going to a tinyurl2(dot)RU address.

You don't need telling not to click on it but I gather some folk have and experienced phone going full batshit crazy.

Yes, it's claiming to be free chocolate but nicht beklikken linken

[DS999]

Putin knows the west is very capable as well

He's seen hints of what we're capable of, with stuff like Stuxnet. The reason he hasn't hit us so far is probably because he's worried our retaliation might make things so bad at home that he's in personal danger from his own people. Imagine if electricity was cut off nationwide in Russia, or even just TV and phones. Who do the people blame dazed and without any communication with the outside world blame? You can only blame NATO / the US so much before you turn on Putin for not protecting you from the big bad west.

The amount of ramp up he's capable of beyond what he's previously used against us is a fraction of the ramp up we're capable of we've previously used against him.

[amanfromMars 1]

Re: Putin knows the west is very capable as well

Imagine if electricity was cut off nationwide in Russia, .... The amount of ramp up he's capable of beyond what he's previously used against us is a fraction of the ramp up we're capable of we've previously used against him. ...... DS999

Imagine if electricity was cut off nationwide in UK, or such as be vital commodities were too expensive to buy ? ......... which appears to be a rapidly growing list of essential items according to all the current news readily available creating fears for the future.

What do you think the end game is? Cui Bono?

The amount of ramp up they're capable of beyond what they've previously used against us is a fraction of the ramp up they're capable of and previously used against us ..... and is gravely to be regarded.

[oldtaku]

They were aleady doing it, just a matter of scale

Putin's hackers were already attacking infrastructure, stealing data, stealing money, and breaking things globally before the invasion of Ukraine (since breaking things is all Putin's Russia can do).

This will be kind of like a COVID spike.

[Anonymous Coward]

Is it just me, or is the addition of the word "posture" simply turning a clear meaning into one that doesn't actually make much sense ( unless you are running an inline mental buzzword blocker )

Oh El Reg pays it's hacks by the word. Right you are then.

[amanfromMars 1]

Whenever Not so Much a Possibility, rather More a Certain Inevitability, What Can and Do You Do?

Is it possible or desirable to defend and protect and maintain the indefensible and inequitable, or is such a folly for schools of fools, and fully deserved of relentless anonymous 0day cyber attack with myriad other virtual assaults easily confusingly classified by sundry armchair generals and wannabe Caesars and Churchills as special paramilitarised operation?

And whenever the honest answer to such a critical and not really hypothetical question is clearly enough a constantly resounding ..... No, it is neither possible nor desirable. ...... who and/or what is most likely to be targeted/bombarded/demolished/liquidated?

Oh .... and are you also likely to be classified an enemy or hostile, prone and liable to suffer collateral damage, if you don't think it so, and would support the indefensible and inequitable?